funny you should ask, there is a discussion somewhat about this on the FDCC email list right now... Here's what I posted.

MRPs are pretty available for around $1200 if you're not getting the match barrel. Granted, $1200 is still a lot to pay for an upper, but its not *that* much more than what many people are paying for a good upper and barrel plus rail system. The LMT will already come with the most rigid FF rail system on the market, an excellent quality barrel and their enhanced bolt. When compared to similar quality parts and pieces, the price difference is not nearly as extreme.

Agreed, all you may need in general is combat accuracy at 100 feet or so. But some people think and want beyond what's generally needed and appreciate the ability to have a single rifle that does that and a lot more. Whats more, some of us regularly (and thoroughly) enjoy going out to the longer ranges and hitting things that our other guns simply can not. As it stands, people with a few task specific guns bring the gun they feel will best meet what is required of them. People with one gun that is not really task specific use what they have and are forced to "make due". Having a single gun that will excell at almost any task you could put it against is appealing to some.

In the end, its a very nice feeling to know your gun is limited in what it can do only by your own ability to do it. I find that MUCH less frustrating than being limited in what you can do due to the capabilities of your gun. Granted, if all you do is shoot at targets 100 feet away, these capabilites
will probably not intrigue you. But not everyone will be satisfied with that, even if its all we may ever "need". Some of us get a lot of enjoyment from making the guns do more than that. I think we recognize that the gun will probably never have to be used in real life at that capacity, but that
doesnt mean we dont have a ROCKIN great time every time it performs on the range or in the class. And the satisfaction and pleasure of owning a gun that is capable of doing nearly whatever we ask of it, is well worth the added expense to some. I can tell you that the joy of doing the things I have been able to do with my guns makes them well worth every cent I have paid. And I can tell you I would not get the same feeling from a non FF carbine that is perfectly capable of combat accuracy at 100 feet, because that gun could not produce the same results.

Anyway, rant off... If you guys ever wonder what the voices in my head say... this has been a pretty good example!!!